Prop 8: Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down California’s voter-mandated ban on gay marriages, but stopped short of finding that other states or the federal government were required to recognize same-sex marriage. The decision sets the stage for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on gay marriage as soon as next year, and could add fuel to the issue in the presidential campaign. In a 2-1 vote, a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said California’s 2008 law, popularly known as Proposition 8, violated the 14th Amendment’s equal-protection clause by stigmatizing a minority group without legitimate reason. WSJ’s Jess Bravin has more. Download MP3

Rick Santorum jolted the Republican presidential race Tuesday with a three-state sweep of nominating contests in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota, puncturing Mitt Romney’s claim to be the unstoppable front-runner. Mr. Santorum’s three victories, one in the Mountain West and two in the Midwest, give his campaign a much-needed burst of momentum while stirring doubt about Mr. Romney’s abilities to woo conservatives to his side in important electoral swing states such as Missouri and Colorado. So far, Mr. Romney has won in states where he has devoted significant campaign time and advertising dollars. WSJ Editorial Board member Brian Carney discusses what Mr. Santorum’s victory means in the long run. Download MP3

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